REFUGEE RESPONSE

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

On behalf of the U.S. Committee for Refugees, I thank you for the extraordinary series (''No Place Called Home,'' by William Mullen, Oct. 9) on refugee protection and assistance around the world. It is rare, indeed, that the media in the United States allocate the space and resources needed to present such a well-documented, in-depth analysis of this complex, often misunderstood issue. Such coverage is essential to providing the American people with the information they need to advocate wise decisions concerning the world`s 13 million refugees.

SOURCE: Roger P. Winter, Director, U.S. Committee for Refugees.

DATELINE: WASHINGTON

The excellent series on refugees by William Mullen was one of the finest pieces of journalism to appear this year in The Chicago Tribune. For the American Refugee Committee, commemorating 10 years of working both overseas and stateside with and for refugees, the articles were especially significant. It is not often that a newspaper can capture or tell the whole story and take the space to also give the details of what makes the news. We congratulate you for the fine coverage of a story that must be told. SOURCE: Phyllis J. Handelman, Director, Illinois Office American Refugee Committee.

DATELINE: EVANSTON

Congratulations to the editors with enough vision and boldness to assign William Mullen the recent in-depth series on world refugees. He did a fine job of reporting and writing on a subject that is difficult at best.

In fact, I was surprised that a daily newspaper would tackle the challenge of covering such a tough topic, one fraught with political stickiness pointing to the highest levels of U.S. foreign policy and its makers. For those whose only print means of keeping abreast of daily news is a daily newspaper, this type of reporting fills a void that has remained empty for too long. SOURCE: Sheree Pomper.

DATELINE: LINCOLNWOOD

NOT WHERE IT`S AT I recently read SUNDAY`s regular column by Dave Barry (''Simplified Geography Is Where It`s At,'' Oct. 2) and found it entertaining as always. But I was struck by what I thought was funny.

When Dave Barry mentioned the National Geographic Survey, he also mentioned the statistics of that survey. Now, sure, I, like everyone else, have heard of the sad state of affairs of the American students and how far behind Japan we are. But I take offense at Grosvenor`s survey.

He took 1,116 Americans to survey (out of a mere 256 million). Hardly a very accurate number. I find it hard to believe that the Americans are half as stupid as Grosvenor`s survey made us out to be.

National Geographic should spend less time worrying about whether or not your average poor person knows where the Pacific Ocean is and more time worrying about where their next meal is going to come from.

SOURCE: Susan Sutherland, 18.

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